| Show Si S. SL L. L Solon Calls For Equality In Legislature Knight to Lead I Drive rive To Seat More From County Area By Will ill Jarvis Jan State Sen Newell Knight R. R Salt Lake said Wednesday he is going going- to make an out all effort Inthe in inthe inthe the 1949 state slate legislature to have something done about the gross inequality of legislative leg representation representation representation tation among the various dis dis- dis- dis s. s He Hc has assembled population estimates of Salt Lake county and each of its 1 19 l legislative districts These statistics computed by Alvin Ked Keddington dl n g to n Salt Lake county clerk show how that the county is legally entitled to 10 senators and 28 representatives instead of the seven senators and 19 representatives representatives representatives it has Each county is legally entitled I Ito to one representative tive for e each ch I of population or major fraction fraction frac frac- rae rae- tion thereof The ratio of senators senators senators sena sena- tors should be one to Estimated Population The estimates were computed with several factors including the school census and the number of registered voters Salt Lake City's population is estimated at Salt Lake county's Difference between representation tion the county has hasP and what it should have according to law arises from the fact that the population population population pop pop- of the area has increased since its legislative districts were last set up by the legislature Other areas in the state haven't increased proportionately w wit with i t h some counties such as Salt Lake Weber and Utah But the n number I of for the representatives areas I more or less static stati l in population and those with th increased population population population tion has stayed the same Thus the populated larger-populated areas have become underrepresented A large number of people will have one vote in the legislature just as aswill aswill will wm a small number Adjust t Each 5 IS Years Utah's constitutional fathers thought they provided for such a situation Provisions in the constitution constitution constitution con con- would have the legislative legislative legisla legisla- tive apportionment adjusted every five years according to population based on a census Although the constitution says the legislature shall shaH do this Atty Gen Grover A. A Giles Informed in informed informed in- in formed Sen Knight that he knows knows' of no way the legislature can be compelled to do so Since the adoption of the constitution constitution const const- in 1896 the legislature has redistricted twice twice twice-in in 1921 and in 1931 1031 Rep Thomas M. M Rees D. D Salt Lake will sponsor a move to to redistrict in the house He has unsuccessfully tried to get the I legislature to take such action in previous sessions It is not anticipated the efforts of Sen Knight ht or Rep Rees will ll meet success in the coming ses ses- ses- ses sion The smaller-populated smaller counties counties counties coun coun- ties can prevent such a move as their legislative votes otes outnumber those of the few centers of large population They are very unlikely to give up the balance they hold hold hold- at least until the federal census in 1950 is completed complete |
